Difference between revisions of "Cyrus Hall McCormick" - New World Encyclopedia

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[[Image:Cyrus McCormick engraving.jpg|thumbnail|right|Cyrus McCormick]]
 
[[Image:Cyrus McCormick engraving.jpg|thumbnail|right|Cyrus McCormick]]
'''Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr.''' (February 15, 1809 &ndash; May 13, 1884) was an [[United States|American]] [[inventor]] and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of [[International Harvester|International Harvester Company]] in 1902. <ref name=whs>"Cyrus H. McCormick (1809-1884) was an industrialist and inventor of the first commercially successful reaper, a horse-drawn machine to harvest wheat. He was born at the family farm (Walnut Grove) in [[Rockbridge County, Virginia]] on February 15, 1809.  His father Robert experimented with a design for a mechanical reaper from around the time of Cyrus' birth." [[Wisconsin Historical Society]], ''Cyrus McCormick - International Harvester Company Collection'', [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/libraryarchives/ihc/cyrus.asp Cyrus Hall McCormick] Retrieved  August 26, 2007.</ref>Among other honors, McCormick was was elected a corresponding member of the prestigious [[French Academy of Sciences]], "as having done more for the cause of agriculture than any other living man."  He invented a machine that positively benefited the world economy. It helped to bring about the mechanization of the agricultural industry, making it possible to harvest more food to feed a hungry world. It also freed up workers to be employed by the Industrial Revolution and the Union Army during the [[American Civil War]].  A philanthropist and committed Christian, he founded the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.  Too often, those who are gifted with the ability to innovate in science or in technology fail to place their skills at the service of humanity.  Instead, what they invent is either destructive, potentially destructive or adds nothing to human welfare.  McCormick may well have been guided by his [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] faith, which stress the value of work, morality and  
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'''Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr.''' (February 15, 1809 &ndash; May 13, 1884) was an [[United States|American]] [[inventor]] and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of [[International Harvester|International Harvester Company]] in 1902. <ref name=whs>"Cyrus H. McCormick (1809-1884) was an industrialist and inventor of the first commercially successful reaper, a horse-drawn machine to harvest wheat. He was born at the family farm (Walnut Grove) in [[Rockbridge County, Virginia]] on February 15, 1809.  His father Robert experimented with a design for a mechanical reaper from around the time of Cyrus' birth." [[Wisconsin Historical Society]], ''Cyrus McCormick - International Harvester Company Collection'', [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/libraryarchives/ihc/cyrus.asp Cyrus Hall McCormick] Retrieved  August 26, 2007.</ref>Among other honors, McCormick was was elected a corresponding member of the prestigious [[French Academy of Sciences]], "as having done more for the cause of agriculture than any other living man."  He invented a machine that positively benefited the world economy. It helped to bring about the mechanization of the agricultural industry, making it possible to harvest more food to feed a hungry world. It also freed up workers to be employed by the Industrial Revolution and the Union Army during the [[American Civil War]].  A philanthropist and committed Christian, he founded the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.  Too often, those who are gifted with the ability to innovate in science or in technology fail to place their skills at the service of humanity.  Instead, what they invent is either destructive, potentially destructive or adds nothing to human welfare.  McCormick may well have been guided by his [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] faith, which Calvinism stresses self-denial, sobriety, thriftiness, efficiency and morality, which can result in high production and low consumption, creating a surplus that cannot be consumed, which is instead invested for the greater glory of [[God]]
  
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==Birth==
 
==Birth==
 
Cyrus McCormick was born at Woodridge, the McCormick family farm in [[Woodridge, Virginia]], in the [[Shenandoah Valley]] on the western side of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]]. His parents were, Mary Ann Hall and [[Robert Hall McCormick]]. His siblings included [[Leander J. McCormick]] and [[William Sanderson McCormick]].
 
Cyrus McCormick was born at Woodridge, the McCormick family farm in [[Woodridge, Virginia]], in the [[Shenandoah Valley]] on the western side of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]]. His parents were, Mary Ann Hall and [[Robert Hall McCormick]]. His siblings included [[Leander J. McCormick]] and [[William Sanderson McCormick]].
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In 1847, Cyrus and his brother [[Leander J. McCormick|Leander]] moved to [[Chicago]], where they established large centralized works for manufacturing agricultural implements; they were joined by their brother [[William Sanderson McCormick|William]] in 1849. The McCormick reaper sold well, partially as a result of savvy and innovative business practices. Their products came onto the market just as the development of railroads offered wide distribution to distant market areas. He developed marketing and sales techniques, developing a vast network of trained salesmen able to demonstrate operation of the machines in the field. [[William H. Seward]] said of McCormick's invention that owing to it "the line of civilization moves westward thirty miles each year." One of the company's most famous advertisement featured an epic painting by [[Emanuel Leutze]] with the slogan, "Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way with McCormick Reapers in the Van."
 
In 1847, Cyrus and his brother [[Leander J. McCormick|Leander]] moved to [[Chicago]], where they established large centralized works for manufacturing agricultural implements; they were joined by their brother [[William Sanderson McCormick|William]] in 1849. The McCormick reaper sold well, partially as a result of savvy and innovative business practices. Their products came onto the market just as the development of railroads offered wide distribution to distant market areas. He developed marketing and sales techniques, developing a vast network of trained salesmen able to demonstrate operation of the machines in the field. [[William H. Seward]] said of McCormick's invention that owing to it "the line of civilization moves westward thirty miles each year." One of the company's most famous advertisement featured an epic painting by [[Emanuel Leutze]] with the slogan, "Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way with McCormick Reapers in the Van."
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McCormick also owned the ''Times'' and ''Herald'' newspapers.
  
 
==Marriage and children==
 
==Marriage and children==
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McCormick invented a machine that would have great impact for the world economy. It would help bring about the mechanization of agriculture and could be utilized to feed world populations. It also helped to reduce the manpower required in agricultural pursuits and freed up more workers to be employed by the Industrial Revolution and the Union Army during the Civil War. The reaper was not the first implement of its kind, but McCormick effectively perfected the instrument and built a large corporation from its marketing and sales.<ref>Evans, 79.</ref>
 
McCormick invented a machine that would have great impact for the world economy. It would help bring about the mechanization of agriculture and could be utilized to feed world populations. It also helped to reduce the manpower required in agricultural pursuits and freed up more workers to be employed by the Industrial Revolution and the Union Army during the Civil War. The reaper was not the first implement of its kind, but McCormick effectively perfected the instrument and built a large corporation from its marketing and sales.<ref>Evans, 79.</ref>
  
McCormick was a devout Christian.  He supported many Presbyterian organizations and founded the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.  He was also active within the Democratic Party.  
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McCormick was a devout Christian.  He supported many Presbyterian organizations and founded the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.  He was also active within the Democratic Party. The Farm in Virginia is now the Cyrus McCormick Farm Museum.
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==

Revision as of 04:52, 10 November 2007

Cyrus McCormick

Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. (February 15, 1809 – May 13, 1884) was an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester Company in 1902. [1]Among other honors, McCormick was was elected a corresponding member of the prestigious French Academy of Sciences, "as having done more for the cause of agriculture than any other living man." He invented a machine that positively benefited the world economy. It helped to bring about the mechanization of the agricultural industry, making it possible to harvest more food to feed a hungry world. It also freed up workers to be employed by the Industrial Revolution and the Union Army during the American Civil War. A philanthropist and committed Christian, he founded the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Too often, those who are gifted with the ability to innovate in science or in technology fail to place their skills at the service of humanity. Instead, what they invent is either destructive, potentially destructive or adds nothing to human welfare. McCormick may well have been guided by his Calvinist faith, which Calvinism stresses self-denial, sobriety, thriftiness, efficiency and morality, which can result in high production and low consumption, creating a surplus that cannot be consumed, which is instead invested for the greater glory of God


Birth

Cyrus McCormick was born at Woodridge, the McCormick family farm in Woodridge, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley on the western side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. His parents were, Mary Ann Hall and Robert Hall McCormick. His siblings included Leander J. McCormick and William Sanderson McCormick.

Reaper

McCormick Reaper

His father, the inventor Robert Hall McCormick, worked for 16 years on a horse-drawn reaper. However, he was not able to finish his project and stopped developing it. Cyrus was given the project, and developed a final version of the reaper in two months. The reaper was demonstrated in tests in 1831 and was patented by Cyrus in 1834. [1] [2]

In 1847, Cyrus and his brother Leander moved to Chicago, where they established large centralized works for manufacturing agricultural implements; they were joined by their brother William in 1849. The McCormick reaper sold well, partially as a result of savvy and innovative business practices. Their products came onto the market just as the development of railroads offered wide distribution to distant market areas. He developed marketing and sales techniques, developing a vast network of trained salesmen able to demonstrate operation of the machines in the field. William H. Seward said of McCormick's invention that owing to it "the line of civilization moves westward thirty miles each year." One of the company's most famous advertisement featured an epic painting by Emanuel Leutze with the slogan, "Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way with McCormick Reapers in the Van."

McCormick also owned the Times and Herald newspapers.

Marriage and children

In January of 1858, McCormick married Nancy Maria Fowler (1846-1912), also known as Nettie Fowler. She was 23 years old. They had the following children: [3] [4]

  • Cyrus Hall McCormick II (1859-1932) who was born in Morristown, New Jersey. His son, Cyrus Hall McCormick III (1889-1970) would become Chairman of the company. [5]
  • Mary Virginia McCormick (1861-1941)
  • Robert McCormick (1863-1910)
  • Anita McCormick (1866-1954) who married Emmons Blaine (1857-1892). [6]
  • Alice McCormick (1870-1945)
  • Harold Fowler McCormick (1872–1941), who married Edith Rockefeller, youngest daughter of John D. Rockefeller. Their son was Harold Fowler McCormick, Jr. (1898-1973). He was the great uncle of Robert R. McCormick. [7] He was a very active member of The Commercial Club of Chicago.
  • Stanley F. McCormick (1874-1947) who worked for the firm, but developed schizophrenia and retired early in 1906. [8] His wife Katharine, a suffragette, funded Gregory Pincus's research of the first birth control pill.

Awards

Numerous prizes and medals were awarded for his reaper, and he was elected a corresponding member of the French Academy of Sciences, "as having done more for the cause of agriculture than any other living man." The invention of the reaper made farming far more efficient, and resulted in a global shift of labor from farmlands to cities. In 1855, his machine won the Grand Medal at the Paris Exhibition.

Death

McCormick died in Chicago in 1884, he had been an invalid for the past three or four years. [9] The company passed on to his grandson, Cyrus Hall McCormick III [1] The McCormick factories were later the site of urban labor strikes that led to the Haymarket Square riot in 1886. One of the reasons the employees were striking was because they were earning only $9 a week.

Archive

Cyrus McCormick's papers are held by the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Legacy

McCormick invented a machine that would have great impact for the world economy. It would help bring about the mechanization of agriculture and could be utilized to feed world populations. It also helped to reduce the manpower required in agricultural pursuits and freed up more workers to be employed by the Industrial Revolution and the Union Army during the Civil War. The reaper was not the first implement of its kind, but McCormick effectively perfected the instrument and built a large corporation from its marketing and sales.[10]

McCormick was a devout Christian. He supported many Presbyterian organizations and founded the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. He was also active within the Democratic Party. The Farm in Virginia is now the Cyrus McCormick Farm Museum.

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Cyrus H. McCormick (1809-1884) was an industrialist and inventor of the first commercially successful reaper, a horse-drawn machine to harvest wheat. He was born at the family farm (Walnut Grove) in Rockbridge County, Virginia on February 15, 1809. His father Robert experimented with a design for a mechanical reaper from around the time of Cyrus' birth." Wisconsin Historical Society, Cyrus McCormick - International Harvester Company Collection, Cyrus Hall McCormick Retrieved August 26, 2007.
  2. Harold Evans, They Made America (New York & Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2004), 81.
  3. "Mrs. Nettie Fowler McCormick, 88, widow of Cyrus H. McCormick, inventor of the grain reaper, at Lake Forest, Illinois, of acute bronchitis." Time, "Died," July 16, 1923.
  4. New York Times, "Mrs. Cyrus McCormick Ill. Husband and Son Race to Bedside on Special Train," January 17, 1921.
  5. "Cyrus McCormick, former vice president and director of the International Harvester Company and grandson of the inventor, died yesterday of a cerebral hemorrhage in a hospital here. He was 79 years old and had lived here for about 15 years. He retired in 1931." New York Times, "Cyrus McCormick, 79, of Reaper Company," April 1, 1970.
  6. "The idea attracted Mrs. Emmons Blaine, daughter of Reaper Inventor Cyrus McCormick, who gave the colonel $1,000,000 to launch the Parker School in 1901. The colonel spawned all sorts of innovations in U.S. education—specialized teachers, morning assemblies, the teaching of art, music and drama." Time, "Progressively Progressive," June 8, 1962, Progressively ProgressiveRetrieved August 21, 2007.
  7. "Fowler McCormick, former chairman of the board of the International Harvester Company, the world's largest manufacturer of agricultural implements, died here today after a lingering illness, company officials announced. He was 74 years old." New York Times, "Fowler McCormick Dies at 74. Ex-Chairman of Harvester," January 7, 1973.
  8. New York Times, "Stanley F. McCormick, Son of International Harvester Company Founder Was 72," January 20, 1947.
  9. "The Hon. Cyrus Hall McCormick died at his home in Chicago at 7 o'clock A.M. yesterday. He had been an invalid for the past three or four years, his troubles being caused by paralysis of the lower limbs. For two years he has not been able to walk, and for over a year past has moved..." New York Times, "Cyrus H. McCormick Dead," May 14, 1884.
  10. Evans, 79.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Casson, Herbert N. Cyrus Hall McCormick: His Life and Work. Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co., 1909.
  • Evans, Harold. They Made America. New York & Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2004. ISBN 0-316-27766-5
  • Hutchinson, William Thomas. Seed-time, 1809-1856. Vol. 1, Cyrus Hall McCormick. New York & London: The Century Co., 1930.
  • Hutchinson, William Thomas. Harvest, 1856-1884. Vol. 2, Cyrus Hall McCormick. New York & London: The Century Co., 1930.
  • New York Times. "Cyrus H. McCormick Dead." May 14, 1884.
  • New York Times. "Cyrus McCormick, 79, of Reaper Company." April 1, 1970.
  • New York Times. "Fowler McCormick Dies at 74. Ex-Chairman of Harvester." January 7, 1973.
  • New York Times. "Mrs. Cyrus McCormick Ill. Husband and Son Race to Bedside on Special Train." January 17, 1921.
  • New York Times. "Stanley F. McCormick, Son of International Harvester Company Founder Was 72." January 20, 1947.
  • Time. "Died." July 16, 1923.
  • Time. "Progressively Progressive." June 8, 1962. Progressively ProgressiveRetrieved August 21, 2007.
  • Lyons, Norbert. The McCormick Reaper Legend: the True Story of a Great Invention. New York: Exposition Press, 1955.
  • Sobel, Robert. The Entrepreneurs: Explorations Within the American Business Tradition. New York: Weybright & Talley, 1974.
  • Wisconsin Historical Society. Cyrus McCormick - International Harvester Company Collection. Cyrus Hall McCormick Retrieved August 26, 2007.
  • This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

External links

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